Nordkapp

Masochistic, are you? Camping in Norway in February. Heh. There'll be
what, 5 hours of daylight? And 2 hours of thawed bones. But the few
hours when you can see something will be beautiful. If I were you, I'd
stay in hostels. Warm, cheap, comfy and warm. I spent a summer in
Norway, eons ago. Oslo is a fun town, well worth a visit. And if you
have the time, the road from Oslo to Bergen is amazing.

 

The trouble with using hostels is that you either book in advance and
rely on keeping to schedule no matter what the weather or you have to
spend time searching for one every night whereas with camping you just
find a flat bit of ground and put your tent up.

The important thing is that we *know* we can cope with camping in bad
conditions so there's no need to start worrying about where we're
going to sleep once it's gone dark. Three of us have been to the
Elefant for the past three years and both Alex and myself have done a
lot of winter climbing so there's no shortage of experience or decent
equipment.

 

I've got a pair of Altbergs. I think they were modelled on the
continental tourer but they had to cut the legs to fit (calves too
large) and added a goretex membrane.

I bought them about six years ago and they cost a reasonable 160 quid.

Comfortable, warm and dry.

Still in very good condition after use for commuting over four winters
and three elefants. I'd replace them if they got knackered.

 

What a terrifying image.

 

I suppose the only way it could be worse would be if it was an image
of Hog trapped in a teenage girls body.

 

I wouldn't mind being trapped in a teenage girl's body. Well, for an
hour or two, anyway.

 

I've had a couple of offs in the Pro-Boots and the ankle protection
seemed adequate: two thicknesses of leather on the sides (plus padding,
linings etc) and a reinforcing strip over the Achilles area. I was
really pleased to be wearing them after my flight over the TNT van as I
came down hard enough on the right heel to bruise it impressively - and
they were much more substantial in that area than my bike boots.

 

Not dissimilar, apart from the mass-production difference to
hand-stitching.

Cue Loz referring to your Frankenstein boots. Function over form for
me, every time.

 

Oh. My. God.

 

Nothing wrong with a spot of vaginismus, biker boy.

 

Indeed. Just imagine if, say, Champ was shagging said teenage girl at
the time. The revelations would be ... uncomfortable, I'm sure.

At least TOG would have more to worry about than his piles being
inside-out for a while.

 

I'd have thought the para boots, by their nature, would have pretty good
ankle support/protection. They seem pretty robust in that area.

Don't know about the British ones.

 

I've looked at the ex army stuff and this is what worries me about them
(and the walking boots I've looked at).

Mind you; worrying seems to be a silly thing to do where this trip is
concerned....

 

I'd love some Altbergs. Hoggs for prference but the earliiest they can
send them is January 21st. Made to order apparently. Given my (well
founded) cynicism about delivery dates; this is a bit late

 

OK. So no point me booking a room at the Grand then.
I'm good with the camping. Been looking for an excuse to spend on a new
tent and petrol stove

 

I've crashed in para boots loads of times.

 

That's a whoosh for two of you so far, then....

 

I wrote off an Audi with my para boots.

Back on the boot, arse on the rear screen ... heels in a FOAD dent in
the roof.

 

Naah. I was being kind. And I didn't do the teenage daughter joke,
either.

 

I'll be using an MSR Whisperlite International which will burn pretty
much anything and they've been tested high up in the Himalayas so I
think it'll work. The only problem with the Whisperlite is that it
flares badly and cooking in a tent is a really bad idea with a petrol
stove.

I'll also be taking a Trangia with me because even if I don't use the
burner it's worth taking for the pan set and the meths will work if
you've kept the burner filled and wrapped up somewhere nice and warm.

There's always a lot of bollocks spouted about gas stoves/lights not
working in low temperatures but they're like the Trangia in that if
you keep your fuel somewhere warm it'll be ok. I've slept with small
gas cylinders in the sleeping bag with me and they've been ok in the
morning even when it's hit -15 overnight.